QUEZON CITY – On March 5, 2020, civil society organizations (CSOs) from different regions will convene at Hive Hotel, Quezon City to unify efforts to address malnutrition in the Philippines. This summit is organized by the Scaling-Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance Philippines (SUN-CSA PH) and Philippine Coalition of Advocates for Nutrition Security, Inc. (PhilCAN), together with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), in partnership with Inquirer.net, InqPOP, Wazzup Pilipinas, and DZUP. This event hopes to create a collaborative environment where CSOs can align their distinct strategies, programs, and resources with the government’s national nutrition priorities.

CSOs in the Philippines have long been active partners of the government in supporting and contributing to national policies and plans. In this upcoming event, the significant role of CSOs in tackling malnutrition will be highlighted and explored. They will be encouraged to strengthen their projects and programs using the ‘nutrition-sensitive’ lens, where any development intervention is tweaked to contribute to nutrition outcomes. Examples include incorporating water, sanitation, and hygiene in school or community programs to prevent malnutrition-related child death, targeting of the nutritionally vulnerable (pregnant and lactating women, elderly, etc.) as beneficiaries of livelihood projects, improving access to nutritious food in feeding programs, etc.

This event stemmed from a national convention coordinated by the same organizers last August 2019. In that event, nutrition experts from the government, academe, local, and international organizations noted the lack of harmonized efforts among CSOs is hampering successful implementation of national plans that address malnutrition. Through the joint efforts of civil society, government, and the private sector, the Philippines can fight and rise above the prevailing challenges set by malnutrition.

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This event is part of the 18-month project of IIRR, in partnership with SUN-CSA PH and NNC, titled “Strengthening capacities of civil society and government stakeholders on nutrition-sensitive programs.” Launched in April 2019, this project is funded by the Scaling-Up Nutrition Pooled Fund Grant.

IIRR is an international NGO with demonstrated capacity in integrating nutrition in food security programs/food-based approaches and in engaging various government agencies. It shares its models and lessons through active engagement in the local and international nutrition community.  It is a founding member of Philippine Coalition of Advocates for Nutrition Security, Inc. (PhilCAN), convener of Scaling Up Nutrition- Civil Society Alliance Philippines (SUN CSA PH), and has been actively engaged in SUN Civil Society Network (CSN) activities.

The Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement Civil Society Alliance Philippines (SUN-CSA Ph) is one of the global movers of SUN Movement that takes collective action to attain a world free from malnutrition.

Access the event link for further advisories HERE.

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Contact

Name: Kirstein Itliong

Designation: Nutrition Officer, IIRR; SUN CSA Ph GA Co-organizer                                                                       

Contact No.: 09166649163

Email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.